From Scratch

We’re truly a global community online, finding recipes at sites everywhere, but we don’t all speak the same language. This little chart’s been handy for me and I hope you’ll find it useful too.
250 deg F      120 Deg C      Very Slow Oven
275 deg F      140 deg C      Gas mark 1
300 Deg F      150 Deg C     Gas mark […]

Friday was Google’s tenth birthday, and while I do remember online life without it, using Gopher and Veronica, I’m still somewhat amazed by Google’s growth and ability to index everything. Patrick Chapatte had fun with that Friday in Le Temps of Switzerland.

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A new report shows quite a shift in contributions by members of the US military to Democratic presidential candidates. Historically the military has leaned strongly toward Republicans but Capital Eye, published by a campaign finance watchdog group, has found a sharp increase that suggests the GOP is losing the support of the troops. 
In its report, […]

The first time I ate gnocchi I was about seven years old and was served them at a playmate’s house. We had a lot of fun saying the word over and over, wrinkling our noses in an exaggerated way on the “nyuh” sound. It was certainly more fun than eating them; they were leaden starch balls and altogether […]

To those who celebrate it

The Diner’s Journal blog of the The New York Times invited readers to submit questions for Joan Nathan, the noted cookbook author and frequent Times contributor, about cooking and baking for Rosh Hashana. Nathan was quite generous with her expertise, recipes and ideas, including several for special needs such as gluten-free.
Recipes range from fruited briskets and chicken to a […]

This is a kugel for those who like their noodle puddings pure: no pineapple, no applesauce or raisins, nothing to detract from its sweet, comforting goodness. Is it dessert or a side dish?  Take your choice.
My cyber friend Sunny, who shared the recipe, agrees it can go either way and whichever way it goes, it disappears […]

It’s finally starting to feel like primary time, a bit late this go-round. Yard signs and bumper stickers have been late to appear — I’ve seen one of each for Ron Paul and one huge, next-to-an-interstate sign for Rudy Giuliani. That’s it. [Afternoon yard sign update: two Romneys, one McCain] I’ve seen a couple TV […]

I was spoiled for choice this week, but kept coming back to the one event to leave our world a little emptier, one person who smoothed away some of the coarseness that increasingly pervades our global culture. Thursday, Bob Englehart of the The Hartford Courant was one of many cartoonists worldwide to pay tribute.

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There’s always jam in the fridge or pantry but I don’t always have berries, so I was happy to run across this recipe for the frequent times when the muffin-making mood strikes too early to run to the store. As happened this morning.
It’s from Swan’s Down Cake Flour, which has a small but good website. In […]

Perhaps I don’t pay enough attention to commercials, but I was aware of a store brand of microwave steamer bags long before I knew about the national brands. It was about a year ago and I thought they were so clever, but I didn’t remember to buy any till recently.
The concept is the same as […]

Looks like The Food Network has lost one its few remaining real chefs. The New York Post says Mario Batali is out.
Citing unidentified sources, Braden Keil reports the Network told Batali last month his shows were cancelled and that he wouldn’t be one of the four Iron Chefs any longer; Batali reportedly had told the cable channel […]

Some public schools in my area got rid of their soda vending machines last year, but they — along with schools in nearly half the states — have a long way to go for better nutrition, and cafeterias nationwide are making changes this school year, although some are criticized as lax and outdated.
The Center for […]

 
Some weekends I just like to cocoon, listening to music, reading and dozing off whenever my body and mind want to. My slow cooker is my best friend on those days, enabling me to start a meal with minimal prep and leave it alone.
This is a favorite for those times. It came about when my […]

Rosh Hashana without honey cake is like Hamlet without Hamlet.
The Jewish New Year is next week and this will be on the table. You don’t have to be Jewish to love it and it has a lot going for it; it’s Marcy Goldman’s Definitive Moist and Majestic Honey Cake and it lives up to its name. It’s from her book, […]